Improvement in breech-loading ordnance



3 Sheets-Shet ll F. V. SCHILLING.

Breech-Loading Ordnance. No. 40.295. Patented Oct 13, 1863.

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IMPROVEMENT IN BREECH-LOADING ORDNANCEQ Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 410,295, dated October 13, 1863.

To aZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, FRANZ'FREIHERR ScHIL- LING VON OANNSTATT, of Fort Delaware, in the State of Delaware, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Breech-Loading Rifled Ordnance; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the construction and operation of the same, reference being had to the annexed drawings, making a part of this specification, in which- Figure 1 represents a vertical section of breech taken through axis of gun. Fig. 2 shows a horizontal section of breech, taken also through axis of gun. Fig. 3 is aside view of the breech, showing arrangement of sight and closingpiece. Fig. 4 represents a crosssection of breech through axis of closingpiece, which is shown full. Fig. 5 denotes an end view of breech. Fig. 6 is another crosssection of breech through axis of closingpiece, the latter being represented as drawn out to admit the insertion of the cartridge. Fig. 7 represents a front view of the closingpiece without appendages, drawn in a larger scale. Figs. 8 and 9 are end views of this closing-piece. Fig. 10-shows a top view, and Fig. 11 a side view, of the fastening-screw of the closing-piece.

Similar letters of reference in each of the several figures indicate corresponding parts.

Thisinvention relates to certain new and useful improvements in breech-loading rifled ordnance, whereby the operation of loading is greatly facilitated and also rendered more perfect, the construction simplified, and the weight diminished, and whereby the piece may be aimed with the utmost accuracy.

The nature of my invention consists in the peculiar construction of the closing-piece, the fastening, and drawing out arrangement.

To enable others skilled in the art to make and use my invention, I will proceed to describe its construction and operation.

The bore of the gun is continued throughbe of a larger diameter than the grooved part, according to the depth of those grooves, and is by the closing-piece divided in two parts,

a and b, of which the former (part a) serves as an opening for the introduction of the cartridge .into the second part, (part 7),) which serves as chamber of the' gun after the closing-piece has been brought to its proper place.

The part a or loading-opening is always, when not in use, shut up by the wooden plug 0, to keep it clean and uninjured. This plug 0 is on the outside provided with a projecting metallic cover having on its center a knob or handle for the convenient handling of said plug.

Perpendicular to the axis of the gun, and at a proper distance from the endof the breech, the side walls of the gun are provided with holes to receive the closing-piece d. The shape of theseholes has to correspond exactly with the shape of those parts of the closing-piece for the reception of which they are provided. The closing-piece d, as represented in Figs. 1, 2, 4, 6, 7, 8, and 9, consists of a truncated cone tapering but little, and cut parallel to its axis (or height) by a plane. The surface of the smaller end of this truncated cone is cylindrical, and corresponds with the curvature of the breech. The base or surface of the larger end is formed by a plane having the shape shown in Fig. 9. end projects a cylindrical arm, 0, whose axis is a continuation of the axis of the truncated cone. The end of this arm is provided with a hook, f, for the reception of a chain, 9, fastened with the other end to the breech of the gun at h. The radius of the curved surface of the. conical closing-piece in the middle between base and the smaller end is to be larger than the radius of the bore of the smooth part b. The exact proportion depends on the thickness of metal around the bore, the kind of metal, the caliber, and the maximum charge, and may be determined for every case by cal' culation. closing-piece (l, (marked with t i, Fig. 7,) has to be perpendicular to the axis gun, and forms the bottom of the chainbenb. Its width in the middle must exceed a littIe the diameter of the chamber. This el-osing-piece, inserted with its smaller endlinto the holes hereinbefore described, will reach the extreme outer surface of the breech, and, having the same curvature at the smaller end, will fill out the opening at that side, while the larger end should go into the side wall at the'gu'n so From this base or larger The even or front'surfaee of the ings.

far as to leave about two inches of metal be-' tween this end and the exterior of the breech. In ordnance of small caliber it will be good to strengthen this side of the breech by adding a proper projection. This space of about two inches is required for the reception of a male screw, it, provided with two projecting ears,Z l, and a cylindrical smooth hole, 6, Fig. 10, in the center, for the passage of the arm 6 of the closing-piece. The screw 7c serves, as will be easily understood, to screw in, secure, and fasten perfectly air-tight the elosingpiece into the holes prepared for it; but to facilitate the removal of the closing-piece, respectively the drawing out of the same, it is necessary to fasten to the arm 0 a collar, on, close to the screw k, as represented on the draw- By these means the closing-piece will be driven in air-tight by turning screw 70 one way, and loosened and drawn out by turning the same screw the other way. To enable the insertion of the cartridge, it is only necessary that the small end of the closing-piece clears the bore. The chain 9 is employed for the purpose to allow this movement, but to prevent the drawing out entirely or the falling out of the closing-piece, as will be understood by examining Fig. 6.

The operation of this part of myinvention is as follows: Remove plug 0, unscrew screw k, and draw out the closing-piece d as far as the chain g admits, insert the cartridge through the open breech by a into chamber 1), put the closingpiece d'in again, and screw it tight by means of screw it, then fire, &c. The simplicity of this manipulation is evident.

\Vhat I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

The closing-piece d, of. the shape specified, with arm 6, screw is, collar m, in connection with chain 9, substantially as herein described.

F. v. SOHILLING.

lVitnesses:

F. I. MURPHEY, JOHN E. NoRRIs. 

